Burnham refuses to rule out challenging Starmer for leadership

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has repeatedly refused to rule out a leadership challenge (Danny Lawson/PA) Danny Lawson

Andy Burnham has refused to rule out challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, intensifying speculation about the Prime Minister's future. The Greater Manchester Mayor repeatedly declined to dismiss a potential bid when pressed on BBC programmes Thursday, stating he could not "rule out what might or might not happen" in the future.

Burnham's non-committal stance follows an extraordinary offer by Labour MP Clive Lewis to vacate his Norwich South seat to allow the mayor to return to Parliament. Any leadership challenge requires the candidate to be an MP and secure backing from at least 80 MPs. Burnham quit the Commons in 2017 and his current mayoral term runs until 2028.

Frustrated exchanges with interviewers

Burnham appeared frustrated during BBC interviews when repeatedly questioned about his leadership ambitions. He told BBC Breakfast: «I am not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or might not happen because I don't know what the future will hold.» When pressed again, he said: «I am not in a position this morning to do that.»

The mayor criticized what he called Westminster's dysfunctional political culture. «We have got more functional in Greater Manchester as the country has got more dysfunctional, and maybe it is that Westminster politics is the problem, and the type of questions you have been putting at me,» he said.

Lewis's offer and subsequent retreat

Lewis told BBC's Politics Live on Wednesday he would consider stepping down for Burnham. «If I'm going to sit here and say country before party, party before personal ambition, then yes, I have to say yes, don't I?» he said. However, Lewis later told The Sun he had «no plans to stand down» and was answering a «hypothetical question».

Last week on Channel 4 News, Lewis described Starmer's position as «not tenable» and suggested Burnham should «step up».

Internal Labour turmoil

The speculation emerges amid significant internal Labour discontent. A YouGov survey found 23 percent of Labour voters believe Starmer should quit now, while 22 percent think he should stand down before the next election. Only 34 percent believe he should still lead Labour by the next general election, due by 2029 at the latest.

Reports indicate senior MPs in the Tribune Group are preparing for a potential leadership race, believing they can gather the necessary 80 MPs for a contest. The speculation dominated Labour's September conference.

Burnham's focus on mayoral duties

On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Burnham emphasized his current role. «I appreciate the support, but I couldn't have brought forward a plan of the kind that I brought forward today without being fully focused on my role of mayor of Greater Manchester,» he said.

He added: «In Greater Manchester, we've built a new economy and a new way of doing politics and more of that is what the country needs.»

Government minister Josh MacAlister dismissed Lewis's offer, telling LBC Radio: «The Prime Minister has only recently become Prime Minister, he is the leader of our party, he secured a historic victory.» He noted Norwich South is «a long way away from Manchester».

Starmer has vowed to lead Labour into the next general election and criticized speculation over his future as time-wasting.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).